Politics
It's Official. Tito's Back For His Fourth Term
Timeon out, Tong considers cabinet position
Trying to interpret Kiribati politics is no different from attempting to decipher the meaning of the movements in traditional Kiribati dances. It is a tricky affair since traditional dancing in this Northern Pacific republic touches on the sixth sense.
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At least that’s how Teburoro Tito describes it. No doubt about it, Tito relied more than his senses to win the February 25 presidential election, securing his fourth and final term as head of government.
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The win was a close one for Tito with observers saying it’s one poll with the narrowest of margins. Tito got 14,160 to his opponent’s 13,613, a mere 547 difference. Some 28,319 voted, a turnout of 72%.
In conceding defeat, opposition party candidate Taberannang Timeon knows exactly who to blame: the head of the Kiribati’s Catholic Church. According to Timeon, the bishop took the extraordinary step of circulating a letter to his parishes at which he more-or-less endorsed Tito.
“He basically said that no one knows what will happen in the future, so it is good to base one’s decision on what we can see now,” a disappointed Timeon told Islands Business from his Tarawa home, minutes after the poll result was announced on national radio.
“The bishop was simply saying people should vote for Tito and not for me. I know it swayed many Catholics, because it happened even in my home island.”
Timeon is a Roman Catholic himself, like Tito. The two are close relatives. Kiribati national and University of the South Pacific education academic Teweiariki Teaero said the two share more similarities than differences.
“Tito and Timeon share the same ‘bosi’, or sitting place on the island’s ‘mwaneaba’ (meeting council),” explained Teaero.
“They are tasked to initiate discussions in the council.
“Both are Roman Catholics, graduates of the USP (University of the South Pacific) and both began their careers as teachers.”
Timeon stayed at his island of Tabuteuea, to the south of the group, for the polls and only flew into Tarawa for the count.
Supporters of former Opposition Leader, Dr Harry Tong said Tong would have stood a better chance to beat Tito had he been nominated.
Tong is said to be seriously considering an offer for a cabinet position from Tito, a development the re-endorsed president will have to do anyway. In last November’s election, Tito lost his massive majority in parliament. He now has 15 MPs at his side as opposed to the opposition’s 27.
Tong’s senior aide Brian Orme says Tong may take up the health portfolio given his ambition to inject the much needed changes in the delivery of health services in Kiribati.
Orme says Tito has been generous, offering the medical doctor eight of the 11 portfolios. There’s even a possibility that Tong may be considered for the job of vice president.
“The question, of course, is what is the alternative, whether Tong and his group of seven MPs are better off inside or outside government,” Orme explained.
“Being the politician he is, Tong will be guided mainly by what his voters and constituents want. He generally would like to do what is best for the country.”
Like Kiribati dances, it is not as easy as it looks, analysts say. Even if Tong and his group of eight MPs agree to enter into a coalition with Tito’s 15, it does not automatically mean the two groups can work closely together as a unit.
For one thing, Tito and Tong have been at the opposite end of the political stick. In addition, while trying to appease Tong’s eight, Tito must at the same time retain the loyalty of his 15 to maintain his parliamentary majority.
